Opinion: The Hottest Conservatives

Editorial board member Steve Moore on who are the hot speakers at the CPAC convention. Plus, the GOP's internal power struggles. Photo: Associated Press

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the media ... narrated ... this is this country has shifted away from conservative ideals ... as ... evidenced by the last two presidential ... elections ... that's what they think that's what they said ... that might be true Republicans that actually nominated conservative candidates in two thousand and twenty well the the the ... the ... welcome to Opinion Journal why Mary Kissel ... that was Texas governor Rick Perry at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference ... where Republicans are getting together to talk about the state of the party and its future ... editorial board member Steve Moore has been roaming the hallways ... and joins me now Steve what's the mood on the floor of C pack ... in other mood is very shaky and it's like a a prize fighter who just got hit with the right pot discounted dazed and confused and are they going to these meetings for a long time Mary probably for twenty years ... and usually there's a ... mood of optimism about the guy that people are genuinely concerned about what is the future of the conservative movement after losing to Brock Obama and what what and who is the Savior of the party at this point because everybody the error is looking for the new Messiah ... you've got a lot of big stars there are ... everybody from populists like Donald Trump that I can call in that sense of words what I was a serious people ... the center Martin Rubio ... who were the biggest are so far seen ... you know I didn't see all the speeches ideas but all I ... hadn't lasted a drop in on the seat back but I did hear a couple of those speeches that I thought were quite ... on superior to all the rust and then the people got I pod of dust reception ... Mary were Senator ... Ted Cruz of taxes the newly elected ... on senator who is just electrified conservatives with the way he's taken on ... Dianne Feinstein and other liberals in the side that I he was exceptional I bought it and really but very much on message saying we have to fight for conservative principles ... and other of course was not was ... a Senator Rubio a Florida that narco one of things I find interesting about our co op ... Mary is the more I hear him talk that you know the battery yet she is very comparable in front of a microphone and as ... I haven't seen any body like a lot most Republicans stage for a long time research to tell ... seat you can ascend says the GOP is starting to coalesce around ... certain principles like for example an integration or ... an outreach to minority groups ... like his pants ... yet that that was one other things when I got a lot of conservative leaders said ... at a Republican leaders who were there about the way those are not the same group of people always ... are I think that the one thing that everybody kind of agree is not a if Republicans are the little actions they can get thirty percent the Vestact wrote the guy get forty to fifty percent of Hispanic vote ... and I think there's a recognition in the last month a lot of conservatives who traditionally been ... pretty anti immigrant father and I you know baby this trend of Mary most of the people there are the vast majority ... in a world wide each ... eye and not mine or is around a lot of nations that were a lot of blocks in Rwanda Hispanics ... see our social issues in ... the coming up a lot to see pack arisen mostly about the economy in the end and immigration ... you know that's a good question I was mostly focused on the economics alike and I can't really say what people were talking about in terms of the ... you know issues like gay marriage and abortion but I think there was a recognition of Republicans are to take back the White House ... they've got to have an economic nonsense they're right resonates with growth in limited government and it's you know I'm all about ... Steve was the party still getting a stage to guys like Donald Trump for her Sarah pail and ... I don't know uses the without one because ... I'm not so sure why you know the why are they are looking at that people look at ... what what I think Republicans should be doing is looking at the Future stops and I that's why much a marker Rubio and and and Ted Cruz said in other a lot of really great Republican governors it was interesting though that the Texas Governor ... Rick Perry was there he made the day before in for a better showing in eight may be a two thousand sixteen run that wouldn't I wouldn't put it past him but look I think the Republicans have to put away though ... added that the candidates like Sarah pail and Donald Trump of the past and really look to this young badge which is very talented ... can't or a board member Steve Moore ... reporting from the halls seat back thank you so much for joining us in ...